Lobby

Designed by Michael West of the architectural firm of Calloway, Johnson, Moore & West in Winston-Salem, NC, the dramatic 59,000 square-foot building is highlighted by the 5,000 square-foot, five-story high open lobby area. The lobby exhibit is accented by natural light from the glass walls and surrounding high mounted windows. The lobby exhibit features two fully deployed parachutes, a WWII era T-5 round chute and a modern MC-4 square chute. The round parachute represents the origins of airborne forces, and the integration of airborne forces into conventional warfare. The square parachute represents the cutting edge of modern special operations, and the unconventional warfare they continue to engage in. Displayed together, these parachutes represent the development of airborne infiltration, and the soldiers who work in support of one another in the combined airborne and special operations community.

Information Desk

The command center for the museum volunteers, the Information Desk is the first stop for visitors.

Tony Sims

ASOM Logo

Behind the desk is the museum logo, designed in 1992 by Tony Sims, then a specialist with the 4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne). Having a paratrooper design the museum logo continues a grand tradition – the parachutist badge was designed 50 years earlier by Capt. (later Lt. Gen.) William P. Yarborough.

The logo is a master parachutist badge, representing the highest level of military parachutist, superimposed over a modified spear-head and dagger, representing the insignia of the U.S. Army Special Operations Command.

The logo, like the museum it represents, presents the best of conventional airborne and special operations.

U.S. Army Airborne Units and Special Operations Units
Another wall in the lobby reviews the history of the establishment of airborne units and special operations units, with histories of the major units and even more comprehensive listings of units. Additional information is available at the computer kiosks in the lobby or at Roll Call Unit Histories.

Museum HoursTuesday-Saturday 10am-5pmSunday 12pm-5pmClosed Mondays and Federal HolidaysOpen Memorial Day, 4th of July and Veteran’s Day

The Airborne & Special Operations Museum Foundation supports the museum with marketing, advertising and financial support for its programs and exhibits. Opening the doors on August 16th, 2000, the 60th anniversary of the original United States Army’s Test Platoon’s first parachute jump, the museum offers free admission, a main exhibit gallery, temporary gallery, four-story tall theater, video theater and a motion simulator ride. It is located in Historic Downtown Fayetteville on the corner of Bragg Boulevard and Hay Street, adjacent to the city’s Freedom Memorial Park and the recently built North Carolina Veteran’s Park. The main gallery is designed as a self-guiding tour, in chronological order, through the history of the airborne and special operations soldiers, from 1940 to the present. The temporary gallery changes throughout the year and displays a myriad of exhibits pertaining to the United States Army, airborne and special operation units through their history and conflicts from World War II to the present. For a nominal fee visitors can ride the 24 seat motion simulator. Find our privacy policy here.